Arsenal are set to strengthen further with two Manchester United youngsters in line to arrive in north London this summer
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta gives a thumbs up
Mikel Arteta has handed several academy players their Arsenal first-team debuts(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
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Arsenal are reportedly closing in on three new signings for their academy. The Gunners are set to sign Manchester United youngsters Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, as well as Igor Tyjon from Blackburn Rovers with sell-on clauses.
The north London club are developing some of the game's best young stars, with several already making first-team appearances in recent seasons. Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Marli Salmon are just some of the talent to have lined up for Mikel Arteta's men.
Academies are mainly about getting players into the first team, but the Premier League's Elite Player Performance Plan also made it about producing talent to give them a good career and to sell on.
Premier League rivals Chelsea have been most successful at this, having generated over £400million in transfer fees from players they have produced in their academy. Any homegrown sale has provided a financial boost for clubs as their status represents pure profit - a key metric for the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules.
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And The Athletic have claimed that Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has undergone a medical ahead of a proposed move from United.
The Gunners are also reportedly close to finalising a move for 19-year-old Red Devils winger Scanlon. It is said that both deals are expected to be free transfers, with the Old Trafford club receiving significant sell-on clauses.
Habeeb Ogunneye is considered a top prospect
Habeeb Ogunneye is considered a top prospect(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
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Both young stars are known to Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach, David Horseman. He previously spent four months at United as an academy coach.
The Gunners are also reportedly close to successfully concluding their protracted pursuit of Blackburn Rovers’ Tyjon. The 18-year-old striker had been in dispute with the Championship club after they resisted multiple approaches from Arsenal.
However, it is said that a breakthrough was found last week, and Tyjon had a medical on Friday. Arsenal have reportedly agreed to pay an initial £1m, plus bonuses and a sell-on, for the England Under-18 international.
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In terms of first-team arrivals, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have done a stellar job in terms of bolstering the squad this summer.
The Gunners have signed Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa for a combined total of £200m.
Yet there is still plenty more transfer activity expected in N5 before the window shuts at 11pm on September 1, with several players surplus to requirements set to depart.